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Federer, Clijsters go through

By Martyn Herman
June 22, 2005 22:53 IST
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Expending no more energy than is required to swat a fly, Roger Federer sped past outclassed Czech Ivo Minar into the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday.

The finely-tuned Swiss machine, bidding for a third straight title here, needed just 82 stress-free minutes for a 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 victory which took his winning sequence on grass to 31.

Kim Clijsters also scorched into the third round of the women's singles on another sun-drenched day at the All England Club, taking just 44 minutes to beat Marissa Irvin 6-1, 6-1.

The Belgian former world number one, lurking dangerously as the 15th seed, belted forehands and backhands past her dazed opponent who was given a tennis masterclass.

Clijsters, who has put her career back together after serious wrist and knee injuries, is on a collision course with top seed Lindsey Davenport in the fourth round.

"I'll give myself eight out of 10 for that today," said Clijsters. "This is the best I've felt for a long time. Today I felt for the first time that the puzzle fitted."

World number one Federer was given a worthwhile workout in the first two sets before he gently squeezed the throttle to leave Minar trailing in his wake.

Tougher hurdles will come, however, and Federer will be keeping an eye on the sublime progress of charismatic Russian Marat Safin.

The once self-confessed hater of Wimbledon's treacherous green lawns gunned down former finalist Mark Philippoussis 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in a high-octane Centre Court opener.

Australian wildcard Philippoussis, who has dropped to 142 in the rankings, squandered three set points in the first set and paid a heavy price as fifth seed Safin complete an impressive victory with a thumping ace.

Women's third seed Amelie Mauresmo was at her free-flowing best to despatch Spain's Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo 6-1, 6-3.

The 25-year-old Frenchwoman, who suffered a shock first-round defeat at Eastbourne, plays American Shenay Perry in the next round.

"I played a great match, there's not much more to say about it," said Mauresmo. "I just hope I'll keep going like this."

PERSONAL PROBLEMS

There was not plain sailing for ninth seed Anastasia Myskina, who went through her full repertoire of on-court theatrics during a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Aiko Nakamura.

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The 23-year-old Moscovite who has been beset by personal problems and poor results this year, stewed, fretted and ranted at the umpire during an edgy 6-4, 6-3 victory over 94th-ranked Nakamura on another baking hot day.

Myskina, who tearfully spoke of her mother's health problems at the French Open where she became the first defending champion to lose in the first round, controlled her emotions enough to book a tricky third round clash with Serbian Jelena Jankovic.

In an all-French battle held over from Tuesday, men's ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean, a semi-finalist in the previous two years, held off Michael Llodra to reach the second round.

Having been two points from defeat on Tuesday and trailing 4-3 in the fifth overnight, Grosjean reeled off the last three games to win 3-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
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Martyn Herman
Source: REUTERS
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